MGM Medical Hospital receives security jolt as home guards go on strike

Jamshedpur: Security at the state-run MGM Medical College and Hospital in Sakchi is suffering as home guards are on an indefinite strike in protest against the delay in releasing of salary.

A home guard jawan is paid an amount of Rs 9,000 per month. There are nearly 47 home guards on duty in shift basis at the MGM Hospital. Though home guard jawans are placed under state home department but their payment is done by the respective department which is taking their service (in this case the state health department).

Hospital superintendent R. Y Choudhary admitted that strike of home guards will certainly have an impact on the security machinery at the hospital.

Established in 1961, the 520-bed government heal hub had taken service of the home guards since March 2013 to strengthen its security machinery, which till then relied on private security guards for overall security at the premises.

�We have met hospital superintendents, administrative officials and even the chief minister Raghubar Das during his visit to Jamshedpur recently. So far we have been receiving only assurances but nothing has been done to release funds and paving way for payment of salaries ,� said Kamal Sharma, active member and former secretary of East Singhbhum unit of All India Home Guard Welfare Association.

�The private security guards (around 44 of them doing rounds of the hospital on shift basis) seldom turn up in numbers and very few private security guards can be seen near emergency or OPD units,� said another home guard jawan.

Hospital superintendent R. Y Choudhary admitted that strike of home guards will certainly have an impact on the security machinery at the hospital.